1994 Chevrolet Caprice: problems, recalls and reliability
10 recalls and 146 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is latches/locks/linkages (19% of complaints); the 1992 and 1993 and 1996 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 146 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 chevrolet caprice. While driving 55 mph, the entire front end of the vehicle shook and the contact lost control. The failure occurred without warning. The contact continued to drive slowly. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2017
“Firestone tire fr380 ws p225/75r15 55,000 mile tire. After 12,000 miles tire s are showing steel belts through the tread. Independent mechanic and alignment verified that there is no problem with alignment or suspension. Tires purchased march 13, 2008. *tr”Owner report · Tires · Aug 2011
“Dt: cable from battery to junction box overheated and started a fire. It melted the stud that battery cable was connected to, the junction box and the area around the junction box. Caller was at a car wash and the attendent saw smoke and alerted consumer. They opened the hood and disconnected the battery. Vehicle was towed to dealer. Manufacturer said they had no recall. *ak *nm”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2005
Show 7 more owner reports
“Dt: general motors refused to honor a recall 94-c-59 on 1994 chevrolet caprice classic. Car overheated in the electrical center, the cover melted. This can happen at any time, and no indicator lights came on prior to the car stalling. The car lost power completely the car will not start back until the electrical housing has been manipulated in some way. The car will start back then. General motors said car was not under this recall. They say this recall is not in there system. The consumer with 2 representatives a gm. The consumer had a mechanic look at vehicle the and he said this was the same problem as the recall. This has happened at least 12-15 times. *ak”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2005
“I started my 1994 chevy caprice classic and before I could get it into gear, my car took off and slammed into the back of a honda.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2004
“Vehicle purcahsed used from a chevy dealer. Experienced complete loss of electrical power, even hazard lights inoperative. Mechanic thought it was alternator, problem experienced again. Mechanic found "battery stud" located at "electrical center" was loose. He "patched" it up. I have found through "alldata" that this was a problem indentified in "campaign 94-c-59" & a recall was ordered. Chevrolet claims there are "no open recalls" for my vehicle.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2004
“Problems with firestone tire equipment on vehicle.*mr the consumer had new firestone tire installed on the vehicle. While driving the consumer heard a thumping noise and returned the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer five times and each time the dealer indicated that the noise was due to a mechanical problem. The consumer finally took the vehicle to two other tire companies. Both companies concluded that the thumping noise was coming from the tires. The tires were replaced and the thumping sound was gone. The consumer request reimbursement for all four tires and the money to have the tires checked. *nm”Owner report · Tires · Jul 2004
“Vehicle lost power and stalled due to battery cable connection overheating at the under hood electrical center stud. This occurred because the battery cable plastic cover, t plastic stud housing, and/or the stud itself melted. There was general recall 94c59 for the electrical center battery stud. The VIN number was within the recall, but manufacturer refused to honor the recall, indicating that this vehicle was not a police car, taxi , or a special service wagon.*ak”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2004
“Digital dash speedometer goes away, does not show speed of travel. When this happens opperator does not know the rate of speed being traveled. I have replaced the unit once before at 99,000 miles with a reconditioned unit at a cost of $300.00. Recently at 140,000 miles this unit has failed also. This reconditioned unit is the origional unit from the car that had been sent in for repair the first time.*ak”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2004
“Fuel pump failure. Wire connected to fuel pump melted bare. Wire connector melted onto fuel pump. Wire harness melted. *jb”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2003
When filing, owners marked a crash in 13 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 10 campaigns
THE FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT STRAP FASTENERS WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED. THE FASTENERS CAN COMPLETELY DETACH, EVENTUALLY ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO SAG AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO STRIKE THE ROADWAY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETIGHTEN THE FUEL TANK STRAP FASTENERS.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER INLET HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING GEAR CAUSING CHAFING. THE CHAFING CAN EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH THE HOSE'S PROTECTIVE SLEEVE RESULTING IN ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE.
CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED FROM THE KNUCKLE, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK AT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENTS.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS." AT LOW TEMPERATURES, EXCESSIVE FRICTION CAN OCCUR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
PAINT ON THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES CAN ACT AS A SHIM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR/DRUM. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE WHEEL IMBEDS INTO THE PAINT, LOOSENING THE LUG NUT AND CAUSING A LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. ALSO, THE WHEEL STUDS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND WILL BE REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
How other years compare
Check your exact Caprice by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice reliable?
NHTSA has 146 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on record for the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice. The most complained-about area is latches/locks/linkages (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1994 Chevrolet Caprice problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 91,000 miles or less.
Does the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice have open recalls?
10 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:mounting. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.